Some People Just Don’t Get It!

There will be people who just don’t get it when you make the decision to become a Bodacious Bad-ass Old Broad.

That could be your family or friends who want you to stay the same person you’ve always been. You changing can rock their world, shake their foundations. They will try to drag you back into the nice safe reliable role you’ve played in their life.

This is your life, you get to choose. They also have a choice – to adapt, to get over it, or move on. Resisting the pressure might be difficult, but one of the characteristics of a Bodacious Bad-ass Old Broad is feistiness. Stand your ground and don’t take shit from anyone about your choices. You don’t have to be mean or hostile about it, but you might have to be.

In fiction stories the rebellious, “crazy” family elder (have you notice is always a woman) is tricked into signing away their rights and committed to a mental institution or old age home. If your family is prone to this kind of drama you might want to have your doctor declare you sane and competent (and don’t sign any powers of attorney.)

As you become more visible strangers will also judge you; your appearance, your behavior. But you know what? That is already going on so you might as well be judged for living as you want to.

You’ll even go through stages where you judge yourself. The old habits, the old habits and rules will creep in and make you question yourself.

Can I really wear this in public? A “lady” never _____ (fill in the blank). I’m too old to try line dancing, take up the saxophone, learn to fly, jump out of a plane, scuba dive, dye my hair purple, get a tattoo, the list is endless.

This is just a story you’re telling yourself. The truth is you’re never too old. It’s only too late if you never start.

Another story is I’m not healthy enough, or physically capable to do….whatever. Check around and you’ll find someone in worse shape than you who’s found a way. There are quadriplegic skiers for crying out loud. Plus, as you try, as you do, as you explore and enjoy life you may find you’re more capable than you realized.

There’s a great story about a woman who suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and had become isolated and home bound because she wasn’t able to fully participate in activities with her friends. One day she realized that there was an alternative. She could go, do, enjoy and when she reached the limits of her energy she excused herself and went home. As she put it, “anything worth doing is worth doing half-assed.”

Did people who didn’t understand her limitations judge her for getting up and leaving in the middle of the play, or going home before the presents were opened at the birthday party? Yes, but so what?

Okay, you may only try something once and discover it wasn’t really all that you hoped it would be. Great, now you know and you have a great story to tell your friends and grand kids.

You may never get good at it. So what? If you’re enjoying the process, the journey, the practice then it’s exactly what you should be doing.

Yes – you will be judged. Not all the judgments will be negative. Actually there will be more positive reactions than you can imagine. That’s what I will cover in the next article. How you will be making a positive difference in other people’s lives.

One thing Bodacious Bad-ass Old Broads do is ask for what they want. If you enjoyed this I want to be compensated. It won’t hurt a bit, I promise. You can compensate me by adding a comment or sharing this on your favorite social media sites. I’ve even made it easy for you – just look for the sharing buttons below.

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1 Comment

Very cool Kerry! You’re on a bodacious roll girl… keep it coming. Sick of ‘I’m old’ treatment or judgement. Someone said of a 20 something renting a room from a 60 something was ‘gross!’ Geez, really? The ageism in this country needs a kick in the butt and you’re the perfect one to do it … along with the rest of us bodacious bad-ass old broads (not fond of OLD)